The first match of the Maharani Trophy 2025, scheduled for August 4, will see Hubli Tigers Women clash with Shivamogga Lioness Women at the KSCA Cricket Ground in Alur. This opening encounter launches Karnataka’s groundbreaking women’s T20 tournament, designed to showcase top local talent and elevate women’s cricket in the region.
Hubli Tigers Women field a well-rounded squad blending experience and youth, featuring players like BG Tejashwini and Bhavika Reddy, strengthened by key additions such as Rajeshwari Gayakwad.
Shivamogga Lioness Women counter with strong picks including Mithila Vinod leading their batting charge. The strategic faceoff between Hubli’s all-round strength and Shivamogga’s star power is expected to deliver a dynamic contest for fans and stakeholders.
Squads:
Hubli Tigers Women’s Cricket Team
Krishika Reddy, Nandani Chauhan, Pooja Dhananjaya, BG Tejashwini, H Bhavika Reddy, Likhitha Vilveetil, Mansi Pundeer, Prathiksha C, Sakshi Munavalli, Annapurna G Bhosale, Shreya Chavan, Monica Patel, Priya Chavan, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Rameshwari Gayakwad, Rimjhim Shukla
Shivamogga Lioness Women’s Cricket Team
Anusha MN, Mithila Vinod, Roshni Kiran, Advika D Gowda, Jayashreee Rajshekar K, Keerthi SV, Lavanya Chalana, Saina Kapoor, Vaishnavi Acharya, Sloka Veerahyndhavi, Soumya Verma, Stuthi M, Chinmayi Shivanand, Isha Prabhakar, Namita D’souza, Srinithi P Rai
Players to watch out:
Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Rajeshwari Gayakwad is a slow left-arm orthodox bowler for India known for her accuracy and ability to build pressure. In T20 Internationals, she has played 58 matches and taken 61 wickets with a bowling average of around 19.13 and an economy rate near 6.15. Her best T20 bowling figures are 3 wickets for 9 runs. She has been an important spinner in India’s white-ball teams and will also be leading the Hubli Tigers squad.
Mithila Vinod
Mithila Vinod is a young Indian cricket all-rounder, born in September 2005, who bats right-handed and bowls right-arm medium fast. She has represented Karnataka Women and India Under-19 teams and is known for her promising talent in both batting and bowling. In T20 cricket, she has shown potential with effective bowling performances and useful lower-order batting contributions in domestic and age-group matches.
Namita D’souza
Namita D’souza is an Indian-born cricketer who represents the United Arab Emirates women’s national team. She made her T20 International debut for UAE in 2018 and has played several matches in ICC Women’s T20 international qualifiers. She has scored 47 runs in 7 innings with the bat and has also picked up 8 wickets with the ball in 9 innings with best bowling figures of 3 for 20 and an economy rate of 5.26. She is going to be a vital aspect for the Shivamogga side going ahead in the tournament.
Pitch:
The KSCA Cricket Ground in Alur, India, features a pitch that is generally batting-friendly with good bounce and a grassy outfield. It supports both batters and bowlers, offering some assistance to pacers and spinners alike. The surface is well-suited for short-format games, favoring batters scoring runs comfortably. The ground has excellent infrastructure and is a key venue for cricket development in the region.
Weather:
The weather at KSCA Cricket Ground in Alur is expected to be cloudy with a few morning showers. Temperatures will be warm, around 30°C, with moderate humidity and light winds coming from the northwest. Overall, conditions will be somewhat wet, with cloud cover persisting throughout the day.
Fantasy Playing XI:
BG Tejashwini, H Bhavika Reddy, Krishika Reddy, Nandani Chauhan, Pooja Dhananjaya, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Anusha MN, Mithila Vinod, Jayashreee Rajshekar K, Vaishnavi Acharya, Namita D’souza
Match Details:
Date – August 4, 2025
Time – 9:45 AM IST
Venue – KSCA Cricket Ground, Alur
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
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